Nippon Kogaku GN Auto Nikkor 45mm f/2.8

It's been a while since I posted and I thought it would good to start off with my review of the Nippon Kogaku GN Auto Nikkor 45mm f/2.8. I bought this lens a few months back after the lunar new year. Although I already have the 50 1.2, the focal length was a tad too tight at times which made it difficult to photograph in some situations. It was then that I started doing a bit of research and found out that Nikon had a 45mm manual focus pancake. After searching on eBay, I bought one that was listing for 170 USD and received it the following week at work only to find out that it wouldn't fit. Unlike Ai lenses which have a notch on the aperture ring for the aperture tap, the 45mm GN did not since it predates the Ai design. It was a few weeks later that I accidently stumbled upon a store in Chungmuro, Seoul that was able to modify my 45mm lens by filing a small notch so the aperture tap would fit. The 45mm has not left my D800 ever since. 

Pros
One of the things that I love about this lens is the focal length. I've tried photography at 35mm and always found it too wide and 50mm too confining at times. The 45mm fills that gap completely. It gives a wide angle feel of the 35mm but the framing of the 50mm. Another thing is the size. The lens looks absolutely miniscule compared to the D800 and I can not emphasize how light my camera is now. Did I mention how creamy the bokeh is?

Cons
While I love the focal length and the size of the 45mm, it does have its drawbacks. There is a minimum focusing distance of 80cm which restricts on how close I can get to the subject. Another thing is that when focusing close up, the focusing is quite finicky and requires a lot of concentration even with a focusing screen installed. Last but not least, sharpness. The photos produced at f/2.8 tends to be a bit fuzzy, but it starts getting sharp at f/4. Although I mostly photograph at f/4 and smaller, it would be nice to get slightly crisper photos at f/2.8 in lower light situations. 

f/2.8

Summary
Even with its drawbacks, I still have to say the Nippon Kogaku GN Auto Nikkor 45mm f/2.8 is one of my favourite all around photography lenses. The focal length makes it easier for me to get the shots that I want and the size is a plus. While the focusing does take a while to get used to ( it also turns the "wrong" way), it is a fun nifty lens that I'd recommend having if you can find one at a decent price.

More sample images here